Improvement in carriage step and shank



F. A. SAWYER,2 1.

"CARRIAGE STEP AND SHANK. No 182,963. Patented on. s, 1876.

WESEEE lM/ENTUR N- FETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON D C UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS A. SAWYER, 2D, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARRIAGE STEP AND SHANK.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,963, dated October3, 1876; application filed I 7 August 5, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCIS ASBURY SAW- YER,2d, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Carriage-Steps, of which the following is aspecification:

This invention relates to carriage-steps and step shanks, and the methodemployed in fastening a step to a shank.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification, in explaining the same, in which Figure l is a plan ofthe step and shank united when reversed; Figs. 2 and 3 are separateplans of the step and shank, respectively; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectionof the step.

The under surface of the step, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is providedwith the projecting ribs A A, whose relation to each other in plan, asshown in Fig. 2, and in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 4, are as thesides of a frustum of a wedge, the bases being the solid portion of thestep center and the side next the shank, respectively. These ribs may bestrengthened by the diverging stays B, which also, with the projection 0around the border of the 'step and bar D across its center, serve torte-enforce the same. The step thus formed is made in one casting,preferably of malleable iron. The shank E is shaped upon its head, asshown in Fig. 3, to conformto the recess between the ribs AA. It isprovided with the indentations a, and is cut away as represented in Fig.3 at b. To fasten the step and shank together the shan k-head is drivenbetween the ribs until its end is flush with the ends of the ribs. Thisleaves the opposite ends of the ribs projecting sufficiently beyond theshank head to be turned in upon its beveled end, fastening the stepsecurely to the same. In Fig. 1 the rib is represented as bent in uponthe head at c. To further assist in fastening, the ribs may be lappedover into the indentations by prick punching. The ribs may be madesomewhat thinner diagonally across the look ing ends, to facilitate thebending on the head.

The advantages of the invention consist in the cheapness'ofconstruction, and the ease and facility with which a step may befastened to a shank.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The carriage-step described, consisting of a metalplate formed upon its under surface with the wedging ribs A A,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a carriage-step, the ribs A A, stays B, and bar D, substantiallyas shown and described.

3. The combination of a shank provided with a wedge-shaped head,substantially as shown, with a step provided with wedging ribs designedto lap upon the head, as shown, and to project sufficiently beyond thehead to lock the step to the shank, substantially as shown anddescribed.

4. The step-shank described, when provided with a head wedge-shaped incross-section and plan, substantially as and for the purpose described.

FRANOIS A. SAYVYER, 2D.

